Malaysia Launches First Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, With Humanities Focus

April 2024

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is spearheading the establishment of Malaysia’s inaugural Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in partnership with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). As the pioneer, UTM is championing the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), emphasizing human-centric values to nurture ethically grounded graduates proficient in AI technologies.

Under the Higher Education Committee’s endorsement, the AI Bachelor’s Degree program received approval in January, with the inaugural cohort slated to commence studies in October 2024. The development of AI education and curriculum aligns with industrial requisites, leveraging AI experts and adhering to the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025 guided by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti). FAI, endowed with an initial MYR 20 million (USD 4.18 million) allocation, enlisted AI futurist Zack Kass as an Adjunct Professor to infuse ethical considerations into the AI curriculum.

Concurrently, UTM assumes leadership of the Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Consortium, a collaborative research initiative uniting public universities and pivotal industries to drive technological advancements across various sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare and beyond. Through this consortium, universities can pool resources with UTM to innovate AI solutions that benefit society and foster economic development, addressing market demands for skilled AI professionals amid the transformative landscape of Industrial Revolution 4.0. MOHE’s High Value and High Technology Programme Development Framework complement these efforts, aiming to cultivate graduates equipped to navigate the dynamic job market of the digital era.

(Sources: The Sun Daily; Malay Mail)

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